Sound Confidence for Microtia Children

In May this year, United Foundation for China’s Health (UFCH) partnered with the Guangzhou Wilber Children’s Welfare Foundation (Wilber Foundation) to launch the “Pleasant Hearing Aid Program” at the Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital. This charity initiative will provide life-changing medical support for 30 children with congenital microtia, giving them the chance to undergo full ear reconstruction surgery and embrace a more confident childhood.

 

Among us, there is a group of little angels accustomed to covering their ears tightly with hats or carefully concealing them with long hair. This is not out of a preference for a particular style, but rather due to congenital absence or deformity of the ear, causing them to instinctively want to hide their differences when interacting with peers. Behind those small gestures of concealment lies a simplest wish: to run and laugh freely like other children, no longer constrained by their physical differences.

 

 

This hopeful “ear-making journey” will unfold in two stages. First, doctors “lay the groundwork” by implanting a special device into the child’s body. Over time, this device will gradually “grow,” stimulating the surrounding skin to develop sufficient area. This is much like sewing a soft “fabric” in advance for the soon-to-be-born new ear, laying the foundation for the next surgical step.

 

The second step is to “sculpt the dream ear.” The medical team will use special materials to create a realistic ear model based on the shape of a child’s healthy ear, then carefully cover it with the previously developed skin and sculpt out the ear’s contours. The result is a natural-looking ear that blends seamlessly.

 

 

So far, five brave children have completed the first stage of surgery and are patiently waiting for their skin to grow to its optimal condition. Their wish is simple yet heartfelt: to have ears that look as natural as those of other children. As the assistance program progresses smoothly, more children will soon take their first step on the “ear-reconstruction journey.” UFCH and the Wilber Foundation will continue to provide robust medical support for their second-stage surgeries, helping each child step closer to the confidence they deserve.

 

This is not merely a transformation of appearance – it’s about small, everyday freedoms. It’s answering a teacher’s question without hesitation, joining a game without fear of teasing, or simply wearing their hair up on a hot day. With each surgery, we’re quietly dismantling the barriers that kept them from feeling like any other kid. The real success won’t be in the mirror, but in the moments no one sees: a child who stops checking their reflection, or forgets, just for a while, that they were ever different.

 

 

Healing Brings Hope